Martin Place towers gain final approval despite concerns

The Berejiklian government has ignored advice about the need for one of two Macquarie Group towers to be built further back from the public square at Martin Place in central Sydney.

In what he labelled a "landmark development", NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes gave the final green light on Wednesday to the investment bank erecting a 39-storey office tower above the northern entrance of a new underground metro train station at Martin Place and a 29-storey building above the southern entrance.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, flanked by Planning Minister Rob Stokes, left, and Transport Minister Andrew Constance, at the site of the new underground metro train station at Martin Place in Sydney on Wednesday.
Credit:AAP

The project's approval as a state significant development comes despite two independent reports – one by the Independent Planning Commission, another commissioned by the Department of Planning and Environment – arguing the southern tower be set further back from the public square.

The City of Sydney also argued the southern building overlooking Australia's prime financial strip should be set back at least 25 metres from Martin Place, instead of the eight metres later declared "appropriate" in advice by the government architect.

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An artist's impression of the 29-storey tower above the southern entrance to the metro station.Credit:NSW government

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore described the final approval as "another instance of the NSW government throwing out the planning rule book".

"The result will block views to the GPO clock tower and reduce sunlight, daylight and wind protection to pedestrians in Martin Place," she said on Wednesday.

"This decision goes against written advice from the Independent Planning Commission for the 25-metre setback to remain in Martin Place."

But Mr Stokes said the development had undergone a "rigorous assessment" by the Department of Planning and an "independent design review panel", and it would enhance Martin Place’s position as a "jobs and transport hub in the heart of the CBD". "It will bring a new vibrancy to this part of Sydney's CBD," he said.

The Department of Planning said it was satisfied that street frontage and concerns about shadows from the towers had been addressed in a "comprehensive assessment" of approvals for the site.

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The green light on Wednesday is the final of three sets of planning approvals after Macquarie submitted an unsolicited proposal in 2017 to build a new metro rail station at Martin Place, as part of a new line under the CBD, in return for development rights above the station.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said taxpayers were getting the new metro train station and an underground precinct in return for the investment bank building the two towers.

"The taxpayer of NSW is getting a great deal. It will be a bustling retail precinct and you will really see the the CBD of Sydney come alive," she said.

The new metro station beneath the financial strip, which will link to the existing Sydney Trains station, will make Martin Place one of the busiest precincts on the city's rail network.